[ttly open] yes i'm back in black

[lightstrike]

Who: Lightning and YOU.
Where: Anywhere in the open districts
When: July 9, day.
Summary: Lightning's back. Tell a friend.
Warnings: None. tba if necessary.


OPTION A, ANYWHERE AS LONG AS THERE ARE ROOFTOPS:

[Light's being honest with herself-- she cant remember a whole lot about Saeng Seong. She remembers some faces and names of people, vaguely recalls some of the places she used to frequent, but...

It's like looking at an entirely new world. Or, like her situation with Nova Chrysalia, returning to the same world after something had changed in a massive way. But this time, it was her who changed. And to familiarize herself with the city for a second time, she takes to the rooftops, looking down below and seeing the city with as close to a bird's eye view as she can get.

Her current armor though? Not quite the best thing for urban exploration, even if she's run around in it long enough, so she changes it on the fly.

Literally. One moment, she's just leaped from a rooftop onto another one across the street, decked out in a mostly-black number with white capes, and then landing on her target the next moment wearing pants and a jacket, with a new sword strapped to her back and shield on her arm.

You have one more weirdness added to you, Saeng Seong.]

OPTION B, DISTRICT 3:

[Has she ever been in the mall before? She thinks she has, because she vaguely remembers buying a pair of boots similar to the ones on sale in a store right now. Well, she's not out to buy new clothing, not when she has so much more now, and it's a good thing she doesn't need a closet to hold any of them anymore.

So Lightning strolls through the outdoor market for most of her visit to this district, after buying Saeng Seong's version of a mobile phone to be modified so she doesn't need to wander all the way to a terminal. She now knows the value of knowing things, and keeping up with what's going on in the world. Plus, Hope's not here, so he cant be her eyes and ears anymore. she has to do that herself.

... Obviously that means it's a good time to bump into her when she's leaning over and inspecting some food on offer in a stall.]

OPTION C, NONE OF THE ABOVE
[ooc: got a different scenario in mind? go for it! \o\ I'm open to anything.]

Comments

b

[noparachute]

[Steve had been in a bit of a distracted daze since he encountered Bucky in this city. Half of him was still confused as hell and worried and the other half of him was just glad to see him alive again, even though he still felt guilt. The whole situation had been a mess of emotions for him, so he was trying to resume his normal routine and help clear out his head for a bit. Some part of him didn't want to leave Bucky alone, afraid that he was going to disappear again, but some space away from each other was probably a good idea.

So he was at the outdoor market when he noticed Lightning looking over at some food. She was always someone that he liked talking to, so he put on a friendly expression as he walked up to her.]

That's a new armor. [Did she go back? He didn't really check on her every day, that wasn't really necessary for either of them. Or Steve just could've not seen this outfit until now.] Tryin' to go for more darker colors?

[lightstrike]

[Lightning straightened when she heard someone speak, but she didn't react badly. She wasn't surprised, but relaxed, and not wound up the way she remembered being during her last time here.]

Not exactly. [She remembered him-- why shouldn't she? He was one of the more distinct memories she had about this place.]

I left again, and was put in this. But it's better to fight in this than a gown.

[Which was an entirely different story in itself.]

[noparachute]

Welcome back. [He looked sincere, even though coming back to this place wasn't always the best. And this was the second time for her, wasn't it? Coming back after a few days.]

Looks like a big improvement. [Fighting in a gown did sound a bit difficult.] How were things?

[lightstrike]

Everything's fine now. I have no more worries.

[And that was true, even if she hadn't arrived in the new world with everyone else. She knew that when she got out of here, she would be right there with them, and she knew that at least, there would be no more gods to use them like toys.

For that, she was grateful. And she even allowed her expression to soften, just to show how it really was. They were going to be okay.]

[noparachute]

[Steve was a little surprised to hear that, but he was happy for her. She really seemed to look a little more relaxed and it wasn't like Lightning would admit something like that if it wasn't true.]

Your sister safe back home?

[lightstrike]

She is, as is the rest of my family.

[And she was forever grateful to Sazh and Dajh for finding Serah in that sea of chaos and souls.]

Now, I don't have the strong need to go home and finish something. [Not when their biggest problems are all over. It's easier to live here now, much more than before.]

[noparachute]

I'm happy for you, Light. [She really deserved the rest and freedom from whatever was giving her trouble back home.]

Tryin' to take it easy here now? Imagine that it takes a while to get used to.

[lightstrike]

I will. [She pats his shoulder as she passes by, on the way to the next stall for more window shopping.] It might take me some time to adjust, but it's something I'm willing to do now.

At the very least, I've learned how other people do it.

[Or at least learn how to cope with having no literal wars or battles to fight, at least. How to live in peace, how to live every day with a mundane job, with family and friends.

Being the Savior and mingling with others had taught her that.]

And what about you? You're taking it easy too?

[noparachute]

[He figured that Lightning would be able to adjust well enough. She probably knew how to do so more than him, if Steve was honest about it.]

Have a hard time fully relaxing in this place. [Steve looked at the stalls for a moment, thinking about Bucky and the whole mess with him.] But found somethin' to focus on.

[lightstrike]

[Lightning's time around the citizens had given her a little more perspective on people. She now knew how to read them a little better, how to connect more.

She could read Steve. Not a lot, but enough. He was showing signs of... something. Hesitation? Avoidance? She didn't know, but he was remembering something. She knew the look, after speaking to dozens of people who were remembering the good old days while counting down the time to the end of the world.]

What happened?

[noparachute]

[Steve stayed quiet for a moment, but in all honesty, he felt like he could tell Lightning about some of this stuff at least. She and a couple of others he was comfortable enough to do so with. Maybe it was just a soldier thing for him.]

Met an old friend here. [He smiled a little wistfully.] Thought I'd be happy and I really am. But he's different too. [To put it lightly. Metal arm, no memories, blank face, and barely any personality. It was the complete opposite of the Bucky he still sometimes drew in his sketchbook.]

[lightstrike]

How different?

[She turned to Steve now, all interest in the market around her momentarily forgotten. She could tell that this topic was bothering him greatly.

No one smiled like that if they're truly happy. They only did that if they were remembering something good in the past, but was no more in the present.]

[noparachute]

...Like an entirely different person.

[It was difficult to admit it, but Steve couldn't deny the truth that was sitting before him. He wanted to be strong and be there for Bucky because he obviously went through a lot since he last saw him, but it still pained him to see Bucky like this. He was also violent sometimes and went into that catatonic state once.]

But he's alive. Didn't think so before.

[lightstrike]

[That kind of answer was not acceptable to her. Vagueness didn't bode well when it came to friends and a return of the past.

Especially when it seemed like Steve had thought this "he" was dead.]

Tell me what happened. [There it was. That urge to help every poor soul in the world. She couldn't turn that off even if she wanted too-- helping just felt right, even if she probably wouldn't be rewarded with Eradia this time around. But this was Steve, and she wanted to help him anyway.]

[noparachute]

[Steve took a deep breath, but he told this story before. Not fully voluntarily, but he did. This time, he could at least do that.

He wasn't sure if it was easier knowing that Bucky was alive like this though.]

I saw him fall to his death. He managed to survive, hasn't told me how. [Maybe he just didn't remember? It was possible.] All his memories aren't there.

[lightstrike]

[There was definitely a story there-- she'd have to be a fool to not see it.

It did sound like an unusual situation though. A friend you thought dead was suddenly back, but without memories? She could imagine how pained Steve was. If Serah had come back from the dead with no memories, she didn't know what would have happened.]

And then what?

[noparachute]

It's all I really know. He's from my future.

[He didn't know the things that Bucky wanted him to know and Steve was frustrated about that, but there wasn't much he could about it until later.]

Just trying to help him, even if he doesn't react much. He's still my friend.

[lightstrike]

[She grabbed his shoulder, squeezing it. He obviously needed some comfort, and Lightning was the only one around to give it to him. She didn't understand much of the story, but understood that it was probably as much as Steve himself could absorb and relay.]

Then you're probably on the right path. Sometimes waiting for them to come around on their own is the only way, but it's good that you're there for him. [If she can help, then she'll help.]

[noparachute]

[He appreciated her support, it was... nice to be able to rely on her. Or feel comfortable enough to talk about these things with Lightning. He didn't really feel that way towards anyone back on Earth, but in Saeng Seong, Steve at least had that.]

Wish I could do more for him. [He hoped that Bucky would eventually get better, but he didn't just to rely on that alone.] He was always there for me.